WATERWISE
- a world of water
-guidance notes.
WATERWISE
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INTRODUCTION |
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This CD ROM has been developed as an educational resource to
raise understanding and awareness of what has to be the KEY element in the
nature and future of life on planet Earth. Water is at the centre of all plant
and animal life and together with the energy from the sun and the miracle of
photosynthesis it is vital to all food chains. The supply and quality of water
in our environment impacts on every aspect of life. The importance of water may
seem perfectly obvious but experience of teaching about water to both students
of all ages and adults reveals clearly that many key concepts are not
understood, that where they are understood they are not seen as relevant to us
as individuals and that water is simply taken for granted. The maxim
‘Think Globally act Locally’ is nowhere more relevant than here.
Water is a global issue and is no respecter of national boundaries. It is a
corporate issue in the way in which man’s activities can pollute or
otherwise affect the supply of water and it is a personal issue insofar as we
each have the capacity to waste, pollute or enhance the very source of our own
wellbeing and of the richness of life around us. |
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This CD ROM is not a game or simulation that can be followed in a linear fashion, nor does it contain a lot of gimmicks to trivialise a fascinating area of study. It is a reference CD ROM to be dipped into to raise awareness and gain understanding of our complex interrelationship with the natural water cycle within the context of a planned study. It relies on real imagery, as far as possible, of the world of water to provide an opportunity to see anew something that is all round us. It gives an opportunity to look inside the workings of the water industry or ‘experience’ other activities such as manufacturing industry which can be difficult for teachers to visit with their pupils – there is of course no substitute for the real visit however! |
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This resource has been funded by monies approved by Entrust from landfill tax revenue and has been supported by Severn Trent Water who have given open access to sites, the support of their staff and use of photographic libraries and other archives. Responsibility for content lies with the authors alone. |
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FINDING YOUR WAY ABOUT |
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The CD will run automatically when first loaded in the CD
drive and details of system requirements etc, are included on the cover. The
program starts with an INTRODUCTORY VIDEO to set the scene and proceeds to the
main screen. This is a representation of the water cycle and a variety of
natural and man-made areas to be explored. A single click on, for example, the
word ‘reservoirs’, takes you directly to that section. The section
entitled water cycle takes you to an animation of the natural watercycle and is
unique in its form on the CD. All other sections follow a similar structure
which is best explored and will soon become clear but contain: |
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USING THE CD IN SCHOOL |
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Waterwise-A World of Water has been designed to support the National Curriculum in the areas of Science and Geography though it has relevance to a number of other areas. It has a strong influence of Environmental Education enquiry and is designed to offer awareness raising, understanding of issues and raise questions about the way water is managed at a global as well as personal level. It is intended to provoke concerns and further investigation into the way we use, or misuse water, and how students can incorporate their knowledge into personal actions and lifestyle as well as equipping them for their future roles in adult life where they may have more influence to safeguard the environment in a wider role. | |||||
| Before setting out on the study of water it might be helpful to remember a few key areas that experience has proved to be of importance: -Most students (and many adults) have never thought about the fact that water is not a renewable resource and that we drink the same water that dinosaurs drank and that our successors will need! -There is nothing we can eat or drink that doesn’t depend on water. -Water may fall ‘for free’ and apparently rather too often but the quality and supply of water is due to a vast though often almost invisible industry. The infrastructure of the water industry is largely in well screened works or underneath roads. -Water usage has increased dramatically with the advent of washing machines, dishwashers and usage of hosepipes. -The improvement of drinking water quality has been almost certainly the greatest single factor in the improvements in public health since the days of the early Victorians. |
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It should not be possible to investigate the world of water without a major element of environmental awareness as the way it is used is a REAL ISSUE that affects us all. The CD ROM will provide a means to raise awareness of aspects of the issues, the means of developing personal knowledge, the stimulus to ask questions and within the context of an enquiry the motivation and understanding to make informed decisions. Within the classroom it can be used as a direct teaching tool with small groups around the PC screen to introduce an area of study or as an investigative resource to allow individuals or small groups to fulfill tasks set by the teacher in a particular area. |
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The CD ROM has the following areas covered via the menu screen: -The Water Cycle -Rivers -Springs -Water from underground (boreholes) -Water in the home -Water in Industry -Water on the farm -Reservoirs -Water treatment (drinking water) -Water recycling (sewage works) -Septic Tanks (sewage from small groups of homes) -RBC’s (sewage from a village) |
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| The shots of the various water works are real works but by necessity are representative as individual plants vary enormously in detail though not in principle. | ||||||
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